Fun things to enjoy in January: from indoor games to traditional New Year’s pastimes
January, when we welcome the New Year, is the perfect time to enjoy activities that are a little different from the everyday! From traditional New Year’s games like karuta, fukuwarai, and spinning tops to easy, casual fun like charades and plastic-bottle bowling, why not try some seasonal games this time of year? In this article, we’re sharing plenty of ideas for January activities that will put smiles on the faces of family and friends.
Whether it’s games that get you moving indoors despite the cold or ones you can enjoy while connecting with older adults, discover the charm of each activity and make wonderful memories to start the new year.
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Fun activities to enjoy in January: From indoor games to traditional New Year’s pastimes (21–30)
Jumbo Karuta
Here’s an introduction to “Jumbo Karuta,” a great recommendation for New Year gatherings that kids and adults can enjoy together! You match the large picture cards to the corresponding clue cards as they’re read out.
For example, when you hear a food item from a clue card, quickly find the matching picture among the laid-out cards and grab it.
Because the cards are jumbo-sized, there’s a physical, active element to the game, and younger children can learn by recognizing the illustrations.
Adults get their reflexes and decision-making tested, which makes it easy to get competitive and really fired up.
Play it with family, relatives, or friends, and you’ll have a lively time full of laughter and cheers—so definitely give making a set a try!
Milk Carton Stacking Game
The “Tsumitsumi Game,” made by cutting a milk carton into thin strips, is a simple handmade game you can enjoy with everyday materials.
Players take turns stacking the cut pieces and compete to see how high they can build without toppling the stack.
It’s great for young children to develop fine motor skills, and it also challenges adults’ concentration and sense of balance, making it fun across a wide range of ages.
With simple rules, it’s easy to play in a short time and is recommended for family or friends.
The satisfaction of a successful stack and the funny mishaps when it collapses make for lots of laughs.
Its appeal also lies in the convenience of using recyclable materials and the freedom to change how you play with a bit of creativity.
New Year’s gift game
@rkan24231926 What will our family’s New Year’s gift game be in 2024?Paper Cup Grand OperationNew Year's gift gameHeart-pounding excitement2024New Year's gift money (otoshidama)New Year
3:03 PM – Sharou
A simple New Year’s gift game using paper cups that lets you enjoy both the thrill of luck and the special New Year atmosphere.
First, put New Year’s money (otoshidama) inside paper cups and place them upside down on a table.
Since no one knows which cup holds which amount, kids pick one with excited anticipation.
At the signal, they flip their cups to reveal the amount.
Everyone can get excited showing each other what they got.
The rules are simple, so even young children can understand, and it’s great for adults to join in the fun of choosing together.
You can also adjust the range of amounts by age to make it even more engaging.
It’s easy to prepare, takes up little space, and is perfect for indoor play.
daruma stacking
It’s a game where everyone can work together and get excited.
It’s a simple challenge of stacking as many daruma as possible as high as you can, but it’s surprisingly deep! The key is how gently you place each piece on top—there’s a thrilling tension as you carefully move your hands, thinking, “Easy… easy…” The higher you stack, the more unstable it becomes, so both kids and adults naturally get serious.
Sometimes it can collapse with just a light touch, but even when it topples, it’s heartwarming to see everyone smiling and saying, “One more time!” It’s a game that combines the fun of aiming for success together with the irresistible urge to try again and again even after failing—perfect for New Year’s family gatherings.
Balloon Battledore
@sa_pon_asobi #AtHomePlayAt-home play#Indoor PlayChildcare1 year oldParenting#Seria purchases#DaisoPurchasesAt-home childcare#SimpleAt-HomePlaySimple Playplay for 1-year-olds, play for one-year-olds, how to play with a one-year-oldCold Day ActivitiesHow to spend the New YearBalloon Play
♬ New Year with dance and pop eagerness(1380636) – Tiara’s Producer T
A popular activity in childcare settings that even small children can enjoy safely! Tie an inflated balloon to a string and fix it to a curtain rail or another high spot indoors to create a softly swaying target.
Because balloons fall slowly, even younger children can aim easily, making it fun to feel a sense of achievement with shouts of “I hit it!” and “One more time!” You can make the paddle (hanetsuki-style) from any materials you like—reinforce the handle with tape and draw favorite pictures to create an original paddle.
If an adult adjusts the balloon’s height or rallies together with the child, the child naturally gets more exercise while discovering the fun of moving and developing a sense of balance.
With a few simple tricks, this is a recommended way to enjoy energetic, safe play indoors!
New Year’s gift envelope game
A New Year’s otoshidama cup game that naturally builds number sense through play while enjoying the excitement unique to the holiday.
Write amounts on paper cups, stick the labels on, and tape the cups firmly to a tabletop.
Line them up against a wall so tossed beanbags will bounce back and land in the cups more easily.
It’s easy to prepare and uses familiar materials—another nice perk.
Aiming and throwing the beanbags boosts concentration, and the thrill of landing one in a cup increases motivation.
Adding up the amounts lets even young children engage with numbers casually and discover the fun of calculation through play.
It works with small or large groups, and you can adjust the amounts and throwing distance by age, so give it a try!
plate spinning
Get the party started at New Year’s with a spinning-plate game! First, stick two paper plates together.
Put double-sided tape in about four spots, then press them together.
Cut out the bottom of a paper cup and attach it to the center of the back of the plates.
Next, split a pair of disposable chopsticks and whittle the tips with a pencil sharpener to make your tool—that’s it! If you draw patterns on the plate with pens, it looks beautiful when it spins, so that’s recommended.
How to play: Start by making big, slow spins and find the spot where the plate catches well.
Gradually increase the area where you hook it.
Getting the feel for spinning is tricky, but once you catch on, you’ll improve quickly.
Try adjusting the “core” part to suit your child’s age!